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Cheap Flights from San Diego (SAN) to Shanghai (CSHA)

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      Travellers and cabin class, 1 Adult, Economy

      Compare San Diego International to Shanghai flight deals

      Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Shanghai

      Book the best Shanghai fare with no extra fees

      Flight deals from San Diego International to Shanghai

      Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai? If you want to travel next month, return fares start from $1,252. Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
      Shanghai.$1,252 per passenger.Departing Tue, 8 Sep, returning Thu, 17 Sep.Return flight with Alaska Airlines and Asiana Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 8 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Asiana Airlines, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 17 Sep, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,252, select.
      Shanghai.$1,355 per passenger.Departing Tue, 3 Nov, returning Tue, 10 Nov.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 3 Nov, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 10 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,355, select.
      Shanghai.$1,355 per passenger.Departing Thu, 17 Sep, returning Fri, 16 Oct.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 17 Sep, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Fri, 16 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,355, select.
      Shanghai.$1,360 per passenger.Departing Thu, 26 Nov, returning Tue, 8 Dec.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 26 Nov, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 8 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,360, select.
      Shanghai.$1,367 per passenger.Departing Thu, 1 Oct, returning Sun, 18 Oct.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 1 Oct, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 18 Oct, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,367, select.
      Shanghai.$1,409 per passenger.Departing Mon, 26 Oct, returning Sat, 14 Nov.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 26 Oct, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 14 Nov, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,409, select.
      Shanghai.$1,411 per passenger.Departing Tue, 5 Jan, returning Wed, 13 Jan.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 5 Jan, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 13 Jan, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,411, select.
      Shanghai.$1,417 per passenger.Departing Thu, 3 Dec, returning Thu, 17 Dec.Return flight with Air Canada.Outbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 3 Dec, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Air Canada, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Thu, 17 Dec, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,417, select.
      Shanghai.$1,658 per passenger.Departing Tue, 13 Apr, returning Wed, 21 Apr.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 13 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 21 Apr, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,658, select.
      Shanghai.$1,660 per passenger.Departing Fri, 15 Jan, returning Sat, 20 Feb.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 15 Jan, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sat, 20 Feb, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,660, select.
      Shanghai.$1,667 per passenger.Departing Fri, 26 Mar, returning Tue, 6 Apr.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 26 Mar, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 6 Apr, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,667, select.
      Shanghai.$1,668 per passenger.Departing Fri, 19 Feb, returning Fri, 5 Mar.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 19 Feb, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Fri, 5 Mar, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,668, select.
      Shanghai.$1,668 per passenger.Departing Wed, 30 Dec, returning Wed, 13 Jan.Return flight with United.Outbound indirect flight with United, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 30 Dec, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with United, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 13 Jan, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,668, select.
      Shanghai.$1,669 per passenger.Departing Tue, 2 Mar, returning Tue, 16 Mar.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 2 Mar, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Tue, 16 Mar, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,669, select.
      Shanghai.$1,685 per passenger.Departing Mon, 1 Feb, returning Sun, 7 Feb.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 1 Feb, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Sun, 7 Feb, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,685, select.
      Shanghai.$1,688 per passenger.Departing Fri, 16 Apr, returning Wed, 5 May.Return flight with Delta.Outbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from San Diego International on Fri, 16 Apr, arriving in Shanghai Pudong.Inbound indirect flight with Delta, departs from Shanghai Pudong on Wed, 5 May, arriving in San Diego International.Price includes taxes and charges.From $1,688, select.

      Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Shanghai

      We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Diego International to Shanghai flights are currently cheapest in September.
      Aug
      Find prices
      Sep
      from $1,252
      Oct
      from $1,367
      Nov
      from $1,355
      Dec
      from $1,417
      Jan
      from $1,411
      Feb
      from $1,685
      Mar
      from $1,669
      Apr
      from $1,658
      May
      Find prices
      Jun
      Find prices
      Jul
      from $2,583

      Alternative San Diego International to Shanghai routes

      Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from San Diego International to Shanghai? You could fly into the following airports instead.

      Shanghai Hongqiao

      14km from central Shanghai
      Closest
      from $1,305
      Search flights

      Shanghai Pudong

      33km from central Shanghai
      Cheapest
      from $1,252
      Search flights

      San Diego to Shanghai: Flight information

      The things to know before you go.
      Cheapest flight found$1,252
      Cheapest month to flySeptember

      Finding cheap flights from San Diego International to Shanghai: Frequently asked questions

      There are 2 airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Hongqiao and Shanghai Pudong.
      The best price we found for a return flight from San Diego International to Shanghai is $1,252. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
      Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from San Diego International to Shanghai. But we found flights with one or more stops from $1,252.
      As of August 2026, there are no flights flying from San Diego International to Shanghai.
      The cheapest month to fly from San Diego International to Shanghai is usually September.
      If you're flying from San Diego International Airport, the cheapest airport near Shanghai is Shanghai Pudong – which is 32.7 km away from the centre of Shanghai. We've found flights into this airport from $1,252.
      After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
      No airlines currently offer direct flights between San Diego International Airport and Shanghai. Most routes have one or more stops.
      We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Shanghai but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

      We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Shanghai is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

      In August, the average temperature is usually around 27°C. August is typically the warmest month in Shanghai, when it usually averages around 29°C. You can expect the least rain in December. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is June.
      Currently, Alaska Airlines offers the cheapest flight tickets to Shanghai.

      Flying from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Shanghai: what you need to know

      • The timezone in Shanghai is UTC+8. The city is 16 hours ahead of San Diego, where San Diego International Airport is located.

      • Allow plenty of time to make your SAN to Shanghai flight. As a general rule, turn up at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.

      • Travelling during a peak month such as July? School holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer lines at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.

      • A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your journey and maybe even explore another city. When searching for plane tickets from SAN to Shanghai, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:

        • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

        • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

        • San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

      • Travelling from central San Diego to SAN takes around 25 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a taxi, you'll cover the 3 kilometres in 15 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.

      • Want a stress-free start to your trip? Stay near SAN. Whether you're boarding an early flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are a convenient choice:

      • 74% of flights that take off from San Diego International Airport land at their destination on time.

      • SAN's address is N Harbour Dr.

      How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Shanghai

      • The best price we've seen for a one-way San Diego International Airport to Shanghai flight is $704. The cheapest price for a return flight is $1,252. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.

      • Don't leave things to the last moment. You're more likely to pick up cheap flights from SAN to Shanghai if you book early. Airlines often offer some great early bird rates.

      • Landing cheap tickets from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai is easier if you can be flexible with your travel plans. Try using the 'Whole month' function to access the lowest fares across the month and land an epic deal.

      • Snapping up a cheap flight from SAN to Shanghai is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic notifications and we'll let you know as soon as there's a better deal.

      • Select your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'

      Airports in Shanghai

      Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

      • The distance from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to central Shanghai is roughly 48 kilometres. It'll take you around 1 hour 5 minutes to get to the centre driving.

      • If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 50 minutes.

      • If you have a late flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these accommodation options near PVG:

      • Increase your chances of getting the best possible rate by booking early. Reserving your vehicle from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at least a few weeks ahead of your flight from SAN to Shanghai is a good move.

      • You'll find PVG at No.300 Qihang Road.

      Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

      • The centre of Shanghai is about 14 kilometres from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA). Once your flight from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 30 minutes.

      • If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 40 minutes or so.

      • You'll find some great places to call home for the night near SHA. Settle in and get cosy after your SAN to Shanghai flight at one of these well-located options:

      • Avoid filling out forms on the spot and save time at the rental desk by having everything prearranged. Secure your ride from SHA in advance so you can simply get the keys and go.

      • You'll find Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport at 700 Yingbin 1st Rd.

      Best time to go to Shanghai

      • February is the busiest month for flights from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai. To escape the crowds, plan your trip to Shanghai in December.

      • Book a San Diego International Airport to Shanghai plane ticket with a departure in August if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 23ºC (73ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).

      • January has average temperatures of between -1ºC (30ºF) and 10ºC (50ºF). Search for a cheap ticket from SAN to Shanghai around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.

      More about Shanghai

      Explore more of China

      • Shanghai has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of China waiting to be explored. Around 274 kilometres west of Shanghai, a trip to Nanjing will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading attractions like Nanjing City Wall, Zijin Tower and Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall.

      • Puyang is another sought-after destination in China and is around 241 kilometres southwest of Shanghai. No trip is complete without dropping by Xuanlushan Scenic Area, Xianhua Mountain and Minsheng Flower Sea.

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      Plan the rest of your trip from San Diego to Shanghai

      Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 12 days.